Manchester councillor claims Cornerhouse not under threat

A city centre councillor has rubbished claims that the Cornerhouse buildings are under threat and has pledged the support of Labour councilors in the future, should they come under threat.

The Cornerhouse's short-term future is secure thanks to MMU

The buildings on the corner of Whitworth Street West and Oxford Road formerly played host to the Cornerhouse arts centre and cinema, which closed its doors for the final time on April 2nd ahead of a move to the purpose-built, £25 million HOME on First Street. The Save Cornerhouse protest group had claimed that the buildings were under long-term threat, citing a 2012 feasibility study carried out by Network Rail that suggested it might make way for an expanded Oxford Road station, as well as a hotel.

City centre councillor Kevin Peel

However, in the wake of confirmation that Manchester Metropolitan University have signed a short-term lease – for an unconfirmed number of years – to take over the site, Councillor Kevin Peel – representing Labour in the city centre – says that the group’s claims have “no substance.” He said: “There are absolutely no plans whatsoever to demolish [the Cornerhouse buildings] and local councillors will be objecting to any planning application which seeks to do so.”

The pledge comes as the Save Cornerhouse group aims to secure the long-term future of the complex, with campaign organizer Polly Bentham telling Quays News that she has yet to hear from Coun Peel directly. Manchester Metropolitan University this morning confirmed plans to convert the Cornerhouse into a new base for their School of Drama, with two acting studios, one theatre rehearsal space, one movement studio, one voice studio, and the conversion of the old cinema screens into lecture and seminar halls.